Take a look at the May 2009 issue of Sojourners. Great issue. Needed emphasis.

At Central Dallas Ministries we are trying to gear up for green jobs training.

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Opinion needed: How would you feel about a meeting involving T. Boone Pickens and Van Jones in a lively conversation about alternative sources of energy, green jobs and urban renewal? Both of these very powerful leaders have an interest in all of these issues. We might be able to attract the pair to a future event at CDM. What do you think?

6 comments:

Larry, that would be an interesting conversation, but I think that CDM would need to focus on a bigger issue involving these two: environmental ethics. Pickens has a long history of being a take-over artist, forcing others out of business while he's cornered the different energy markets he's focused on - oil, water, and now, wind. Jones has a long history, on the other hand, of helping the little guy, of being a civil rights lawyer and activist who's increasingly turning his attention to environmental issues. In short, two guys who are interested in 'being green' (thanks Kermit), but, it seems, for entirely different reasons. Sure, a conversation about what we do next would be worthwhile...but I think a major part or sub-part of that talk needs to be about "how" we go about that process...

There is no question that the green economy is going to be the next great driving force in innovation, economic growth and job creation. The directory at http://www.greencollareconomy.com has over 3000 businesses that are creating green collar jobs today and a job board with hundreds of green jobs currently available.

Dr. Majora Carter, on the cover is the real pioneer in the green movement as it impacts neighbors in the "hood".

Unlike others she hasbeen instrumental in developping a training school for the difficult to employ, ex-offenders, and urban youths who want to fulfill a social need and become self supporting within the green movements.

Check out her powerful message on TED....she rocks!!! www.ted.com/index.php/talks/majora_carter_s_tale_of_urban_renewal.html

A group of researchers from across the nation have surveyed green job literature and have determined that special interest groups are promoting the idea of green jobs and have embedded what researchers call dubious assumptions and techniques within their analysis.

The push for a green job economy is supposed to improve environmental quality, reduce unemployment and spur economic growth all at the same time.

Researchers looked into the promises and came up with seven myths related to green jobs.

1) MYTH -- Everyone understands what a green job is.

REALITY-No standard defination of a green job exists. For example there is no difference in a green construction job and a non-green construction job except in a green job you must be certified, which means more bureaucracy and more money.

2) MYTH--Creating green jobs will boost productive employment.

REALITY--Green jobs estimates include high numbers of clerical, bureaucratic, and administrative positions that do not produce goods and services for consumption.

REALITY--By promoting more jobs instead of more productivity, the green jobs described in the literature encourage low paying jobs in less desirable conditions. Economic growth cannot be ordered by Congress or by the United Nations. Government interference such as restricting successful technologies in favor of speculative technologies favored by special interests will generate stagnation.

5) MYTH--The world economy can be remade by reducing trade and relying on local production and reduced consumption without dramatically decreasing our standard of living.

REALITY--History shows that nations cannot produce everything their citizens need or desire. People and firms have talents that allow specialization that makes goods and services even more efficient and lower costs, thereby enriching society.

6) MYTH-- Government mandates are substitutes for free markets.

REALITY--Companies react more swiftly and efficiently to the demands of their customers and markets than to cumbersome government mandates.

7) MYTHS--Imposing technological progress by regulation is desirable.

REALITY--Some technologies preferred by the green jobs studies are not capable of efficiently reacting to scale necessary to meet todays demands and could be counterproductive to environmental quality.

The whole notion of green jobs is just a scam. If the green movement gets what they want, we will lose jobs.

Larry James' Urban Daily

A repository of ideas, resources, commentary and opinions concerning the issues facing low-income residents of the inner cities of the United States and how mainstream America largely forgets or, worse, ignores the day-to-day realities of urban life for the so-called "poor." Written and edited by the President & CEO of CitySquare. Please visit CitySquare.